Arsenal captain William Gallas maintains his squad have enough strength in depth to cover the loss of Kolo Toure during the African Nations Cup - and sees no reason why the club have to spend big during the transfer window.
The Gunners consolidated their position at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on New Year's Day.
It was the last league fixture before centre-back Toure, winger Emmanuel Eboue and utility man Alex Song head off to Ghana next week with their respective nations for what could be more than a month away.
Gallas, however, firmly believes in the likes of Swiss internationals Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou - recently recalled from a loan spell at Birmingham - have what it takes to step up into the side.
"I don't really expect us to sign anyone. I think everything is fine," the Arsenal captain said.
"Perhaps if one player does leave then we have to buy, but if that is not the case then I think everything is okay as we are."
Gallas added: "Kolo is very important for the squad because he is very strong. He has good qualities and my relationship with him has been very good.
"But we have good players in the squad and someone else will be able to play.
"If you play for Arsenal you are very good and I hope my relationship with them will be good too.
"We will miss Kolo, but I can only say how much after a few weeks."
Manager Arsene Wenger has long insisted he has no intentions of moving into the transfer market this month.
However, the futures of veteran German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, Brazilian Gilberto and unsettled midfielder Lassana Diarra remain uncertain.
Gallas, 30, accepts players can become frustrated at a perceived lack of regular opportunities, but feels that is all part and parcel of life at a leading European club.
"We are top of the league and you would not understand why anyone would want to leave - but sometimes when you are at a big club, it is not easy because you don't play many games," said the former Chelsea defender.
"It is then you have to be patient though because the season is very long and you could end up playing in the last 15 games."
Wenger firmly believes this squad are made of the right ingredients to mount a sustained title charge over the next five months.
It is a view shared by his captain. Gallas declared: "We are very focused about what we have to do, but it is not finished.
"Now we have to be very strong because Manchester United and Chelsea will want to come back at us.
"It will not be easy for any of us.
"This is the time when we have to show everyone how strong we are, how badly we want to win.
"I spoke to the players before the West Ham game and I told them that it is not always easy to win how we would like.
"We showed against Everton and also West Ham just how much we wanted to win the game - and if we show that same attitude in the future, then I believe everything will be fine."
The African players will be available for this weekend's trip to Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup, with Wenger indicating it will be a strong side as he also looks ahead to the two-legged Carling Cup semi-final against north-London rivals Tottenham.
Theo Walcott came off the bench against West Ham, and is likely to feature at Turf Moor.
It has now been two years since the exciting youngster joined the Gunners in a wave of publicity, but the former Southampton trainee has yet to find the net in the Premier League.
Wenger does not want that statistic to become an "obsession".
The Arsenal manager said: "He does need a goal, but Eduardo was a bit in the same situation and Cesc Fabregas was a long time in the same situation.
"It will come when it is not an obsession - but the longer it lasts the more it becomes an obsession.
"It will come the day maybe he doesn't think it comes. He will score."
With the transfer window now open for business, speculation is rife there will be some movement either way at the Emirates Stadium, despite Wenger's insistence on the contrary.
With midfielder Mathieu Flamini out of contract at the end of the season and as yet no formal agreement on a new deal, reports in Italy suggest Juventus are ready to come in for the France international.
Should Lehmann eventually leave, with his old club Borussia Dortmund said to be leading the chase, then Wenger could well opt to add experienced cover in the form of Deportivo La Coruna keeper Fabricio or Kiko Casillas at Espanyol.
Meanwhile, young Mexican forward Carlos Vela could be set to join up with the Arsenal squad following a successful loan spell in Spain at Osasuna, as a UK work permit is understood to have now been obtained.
Source : www.sportinglife.com
